High efficiency optical devices

(19)

(11)

EP 1 731 932 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	28.02.2007 Bulletin 2007/09

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	13.12.2006 Bulletin 2006/50

(21)	Application number: 06016540.4

(22)	Date of filing: 13.06.1996

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

G02B 1/10^(2006.01)
G02B 5/30^(2006.01)

G02B 5/08^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	DE ES FR GB IT NL

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Priority:

26.06.1995 US 494366

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	96921613.4 / 0835464

(71)	Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
	St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Weber, Michael F. Minnesota Mining & Manufac. Co. St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US) Wortman, David L. Minnesota Mining & Manufact. Co. St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US) Ouderkirk, Andrew J. Minnesota Mining & Manuf. Co. St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US) Cobb, Jr. Sanford Minnesota Mining & Manufac. Co. St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)

(74)	Representative: Vossius & Partner
	Siebertstrasse 4 81675 München 81675 München (DE)

(54)	High efficiency optical devices

(57) An optical device according to the present invention comprises a body with at least two opposing surfaces. The optical device is characterized in that at least a portion of the surfaces comprises a reflective film, wherein the reflective film comprises a plurality of layers. The indices of refraction of the plurality of layers are tailored so that the film exhibits reflectivity for p-polarized light that decreases slowly with the angle of incidence, that is independent of the angle of incidence, or that increases with the angle of incidence away from the normal to the film.

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